Method of making armored electrical conductors.



G. A. LUTZ.

METHOD OF MAKING ARMORED ELECTRICAL GONDUOTORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1909.

Patented Sept. 6, 1910.

G. A. LUTZ,

METHOD OF MAKING ARMORED ELECTRICAL GONDUGTORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1909.

Patented Sepia. 6, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ull-inc o a c G. A. LUTZ.

METHOD OF MAKING ARMORED ELECTRICAL CONDLTUTORS.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 23, 1909.

969,7 1 2D Eatentefi Sep t. 6, 1910.

wi tvwooao e. A. LUTZ.

METHOD OF MAKING ARMORED ELECTRICAL GONDUGTORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1909.

969,712. Patented Sept. 6, 1910 5 SHEETSSHEET 5,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. LUTZ, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN CIRCULAR LOOM COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

METHOD OF MAKING ARMORED ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 23, 1909. Serial No. 485,263.

To all whom c't may concern:

Be itknown that I, GEORGE A. Low, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New J ersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Making Armored Electrical Conductors, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce armored electrical conductors which shall be strong and flexible and relatively cheap to manufacture.

In carrying out my invention I produce a flexible armor or cover for a conductor which is of larger internal diameter than the external diameter of the insulation of the conductor received within said cover, and then I reduce the. diameter of the cover while the conductor is within the same, whereby the cover will fit snugly upon the insulation. To these ends I wind a strip of suitable material, such as metal, in spiral form around the insulated conductor, as by passing such conductor through a hollow mandrel while the strip isbein'g spirally wound upon the mandrel, .whereby the internal diameter of the spirally wound strip or cover is greater than the external diameter of thednsulation of the conductor, but the spirally wound cover is preferably not so long as the conductor received within the same. and then the diameter of the cover is reduced, as by running the same with the .contained conduct-or through suitable rolls or dies which, while reducing the diameter of the cover and pressing the same upon the insulation of the conductor slmultaneously elongate or lengthen the cover, which may to'an extent substantially correspond to the previously uncovered portion of the conductor. By this means I am enabled to carry out my invention by the use of rolls for forming the cover and applying the same firmly and snugly upon the insulation of the conductor, and the armor may thus be made directly at a relatively low cost upon the insulated conductor in relatively long lengths without requiring the conductor to be drawn through the cover after the latter is made.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated mechanism adapted for carrying out my invention, wherein,

Figure 1 is a. plan view of a portion of a machine adapted to form the spiral cover around an insulated conductor, Fig. 2 is a side view thereof vpartly in section on the line 2, 2, in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section substantially on the line 3, 3, in Fig. 1, looking in the direction, of the arrows, showing a strip in position to be wound, Fig. 4 is a detail view of part of the machine at the right hand side in Fig. 3, showing gearing for operating the bending or winding rolls, Fig. 5 is a horizontal section substantially onthe line 5, 5, in Fig. 3, Fig. 6 is a vertical section substantially on the line 6, 6, in Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, Fig. 7 is an end elevation of devices for compressing the spirally wound cover upon its contained insulated conductor, and Fig. 8 is a horizontal section substantially on the line 8, 8, in Fig. 7.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates a suitable frame, having a table or the like 2 upon which are located uides 3, having a space between them in which the strip 4 to Patented Sept. 6, 1910.

be wound is adapted to pass. In the illusthe requirements. The arrangementis such that when strip 4 is wound in spiral form the grooved or bent longitudinal portion at one edge of the strip will mesh with the grooved or bent marginal portion of the other edge of the strip whereby the tube thus produced is flexible. Roller 5 is suitably journaled in frame 1 and its shaft 7 is shown provided with a gear 8 that meshes with a driving pinion 9 carried by ahollow mandrel or shaft 10 which may be provided with a coupling 11 for connection with any suitable driving means, or shaft 7 may be directly rotated if desired and in turn rotate mandrel 10. Roller 6 is preferably carried in boxes 13 shown guided between the upright parts 1, of frame 1, screws 14 being provided to act upon said boxes to force, roller 6 against strip 4 to grip the latter between rollers 5, 6 to any desired extent, whereby when the rollers rotate, as shown by the -provide convenient means for simultane-' arrows inFig. 3, the strip will be grooved and fed forwardly. The shafts 7 and 12 may be geared together, as by gearing 15, to cause rollers 5, 6, to rotate at the same peripheral speed. 16 indicates a guide or plate located over bed 2 providing a channel 16 having its inner end adjacent to the periphery of roller 5 and suitably shaped whereby a guiding channel is provided for the grooved strip 4 as it passes from between rollers 5, 6, so that the strip may travel on a straight line therefrom to the bending, device. The above described parts ously grooving and feeding strip 4 which niay'be'fed in continuous lengths from a roll or other supply.

' The grooved strip 4 as it passes from rollers 5, 6, travels to the hollow mandrel 10 around which mandrel said strip is to be wound in spiral form, so that its grooves or depressions will lap or interlock in the manner before described, simultaneously with the passage through' said mandrel of an insulated conductonA (see Fig. 6), so that as strip 4 is wound in tubular form around mandrel 10 it is fed forwardly equally with the feeding of conductor A through mandrel 10, any suitable means being provided for so feeding said conductor. Mandrel 10 is rotated in suitable bearings 1 of frame 1 and is located atthe proper'angle with respect to the axis ofv shaft 7, to accord with the pitch of the spiral of the wound cover, which in turn accords with the shape of the longitudinal grooves and depressions of strip 4. To

effect such winding of strip 4 around mandrel 10 I provide a series of bending'or winding surfaces or rolls 18, 19, 20, whose working edges or peripheries are located spirally circumferentially around the axis of mandrel 10, as indicated in Fig. 6, the arangement being such, that such spiral line advances from the lower roller 18 to the rollers 19, and 20 toward the righthand side in Fig. 6. As shown,

2 rolls 18, 19, 20', have surfaces suitably shaped to substantially correspond with the contour of the longitudinal grooves and depressions of strip 4 as the latter is wound and lapped. Said rolls may be mounted to rotate in any suitable manner, but for convenience I have shown their spindles or gudgeons 18, 19 20*, as provided with blocks or bearings 21 which are located in recesses in a support or frame 22. Support or frame 22 is shown provided with flanges '23 secured to frame 1 by screws 24. Support or frame 22 is suitably shaped interiorly to receive mandrel 10 and the winding rolls (see F igl 3). 25 indicates screws meshing in threaded apertures in support or frame. 22 and bearing upon blocks or bearings 21, whereby the latter may be adjusted toward and from the mandrel to geared together to all rotate in the same direction and at the same surface speed, as

indicated inlFig. 4, wherein said rolls are respectively provided with gears 26, 27, 28 of equal diameter, gears 26, 27 meshingwith a pinion or idler 29 and gears 27, 28 meshing with a pinion or idler 30. Either one of said rolls or gears may be connected with any suitable means for positively driving the train of gearing, as by shaft-31.

To cause strip 4 to be positively guided around mandrel 10 when the end of the strip is first presented to the winding or bending rolls 1 have shown in Fig. 3 an abutment 32 in the form of a plug or stem located'between rolls 18, 1 9 and adapted to be pushed or placed inthe path of said strip by-means of a screw rod 33 guided in frame or support 22 and shown controlled by a screw. '34

meshing in a threaded aperture in said frame. accommodate strips of varying thicknesses, and if desired after the end of the strip has been guided around mandrel 10 the abutment may be drawn back until a new strip is to be inserted. By having the mandrel 10 located at an angle to the axis of shaft 7 and rolls 18, 19 and 20 corresponding to such angle, which maybe done by connect ing frame 22 to frame 1 at a corresponding angle, as strip 4 advances to the mandrel and passes around the outer side of the same the rolls 18, 19 and 20 will not only cause the strip to be wound spirally around the mandrel 1 but assist in advancing the tube thus wound along the mandrel.

The insulating conductor A, being fed through mandrel 10 at the same speed as the travel of the spirally wound tube 4 along the exterior of the mandrel is continued until as great a-length as desired of such tube is wound on the conductor, such length of the spirally wound tube being determined approximately for the length of armored conductor desired by the approximate amount that the spirally wound tube will lengthen or elongate when compressed snugly upon the conductor, that is to say, if the conductor to be covered should be 300 feet long, then the spirally wound tube or cover placed thereon in the manner de scribed will be as much shorter than 300 feet as substantially equals the difference between the then length of the spiral tube and the length it will be when compressed and thus lengthened or elongated, by, which means such conductor may be covered The abutment may be adjusted to and is shown provided with a movable cap portion 35 held in place by screws 36, a longitudinally disposed opening 37 being provided for the passage of conductor A with its surrounding protecting tubular cover 4*. The head or block 35 is provided with means for compressing and feeding forwardly the tube 4 and the conductor, the means shown comprising a plurality of spirally disposed rolls having their periphcries shaped to properly accord with the surface shape of cover 4. I have. shown four such rolls 39, 40, 41, 42, although any suitable number may be provided. The shafts of said rolls are shown carried by suitable boxes or bearings 43 guided in radially disposed openings in said heads, screws 45 meshing in threaded apertures in said head and acting upon said boxes serving to press the rolls against tube 4 with the required pressure. 'Said rolls are ada ted to be positively rotated in the same irection and at the same surface speed, for which purpose the shafts of said rolls are provided with gears 46 meshing with idle gears 47 suitably journaled upon head 35, one of the shafts, as the shaft 42 of gear 42 being operated as the driving shaft. With the arrangement shown, the conductor A with its surrounding tubular cover 4 is passed into or through opening 37, and rolls 39, 40, 41 and 42 are adjusted to proper pressure to squeeze tube 4 snugly, or to the amount desired, around and upon conductor A, and said rolls are then rotated whereby tube 4 'is decreased in diameter and simultaneously the material of tube 4 is elongated commensurate with the reduction of its diameter and travels along conductor A in a direction opposite to that of the travel of the tube and conductor through head 35 until tube 4 is compressed throughout its length upon the conductor. By first determining the amount of final elongation of tube 4 and winding the approximate amount of strip 4 upon a given length of conductor A and starting to compress the tube approximately at one end of. A

the contained conductor, the opposite ends of the conductor and covering of the completed armored conductor will be approximately even so that there will be little if any waste in material.

It will be understood that it is not necessary according to my invention to draw the metal of tube 4 to reduce or compress itupon the conductor, and thereby the original thickness and condition of the strip of which tube 4 is formed is substantiallypreserved, and the spiral winding is maintained in uniform condition as the peripheries of rolls 39, 40, 41 and 42 may accord with the peripheries of rolls 18, 19 and 20.

Any suitable or wellknown means may be utilized for drawing or aiding in drawing the armored conductor A through the head 35.

Having now described my invention what I claim is 1. The method of making armored conductors consisting in inclosing a conductor within a spirally wound cover of greater internal diameter than the conductor, and compressing and reducing the diameter of said cover around said conductor.

2. The method of making armored conductors consisting in inclosing a conductor within a spirally wound cover, and com-- pressing and simultaneously elongating said cover while upon the conductor.

3. The method of making armored conductors consisting in inclosing a conductor within a spirally wound cover, and passing the conductor and its cover simultaneously and at equal speed through compressing devices reducing the diameter of the cover and elongating the same simultaneously.

4. The method of making an armored conductor, consisting in loosely winding a spiral strip around a conductor of less diameter than the internal diameter of the tube thus formed, and then compressing said tube upon such conductor.

5. The method of making an armored conductor consisting in wind-mg a spiral strip around a conductor of less diameter than the internal diameter of the tube thus formed, and then compressing said tube upon and simultaneously elongating it upon said conductor.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 17 th day of March, A. D. 1909.

GEORGE A. to'rz.

Witnesses:

T. F. BOURNE, RALPH H. RAPHAEL, 

